Binning takes gold in boys’ 14yrs 1.5k

July 31, 2017

Lewis Binning of Romford Town won gold in the boys’ 14yrs 1.5k race at the Swim England Open Water Festival 2017.

He was the fastest swimmer overall in the 1.5k race, finishing over 10 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Binning had just returned from the British Summer Championships at Ponds Forge, but he still looked strong out on Rother Valley lake. He touched in 17:23.80 to take the title.

Binning commented: “It feels brilliant to go out there and get gold. I came here with high hopes for the race. I knew if I pushed for it then I could get a gold, and I did.

“It was tough on the arms out there today, harder than I have ever found it before. It was quite windy out there, but other than that the conditions were perfect.”

Bainbridge wins girls 14 years event

Eleanor Bainbridge won the girls’ 14 years event, going out in wave seven of the competition. The Ellesmere College swimmer won gold in the 13yrs competition last year, and the 12yrs in 2015 – so she had her sights set on gold from the start.

Hedley and Cooper win 13yrs events

Joe Cooper and Lucy Hedley won their respective 13yrs 1.5k events. Cooper led the charge for the boys, finishing ten seconds ahead of the rest of the field. The Ipswich finished in a time of 18:26.68 to take the boys’ title.

Hedley was the only female swimmer in the age group to go under 19 minutes. The Tynemouth swimmer finished in a time of 18:59.50, almost seven seconds ahead of Alexandra Palotai-Avella of Bournemouth (19:06.39).